December 30, 2017

Technology

The Next Stage in Cellular Therapies

Cellective has developed monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that target immune activation by preferentially depleting regulatory B10 cells, but not other B cells, which augments immunity for the treatment of cancer and infectious disease. In addition, our technology enables unprecedented, rapid B10 cell expansion ex vivo, which allows production of personalized cellular therapies for the treatment of diverse and complex inflammatory diseases where current treatments remain inadequate.

Targeted Immune Activation

Monoclonal Antibody-Induced B10 Cell Depletion

Cancer immunotherapy and immune checkpoint targeting are predominantly focused on T cells, particularly for the treatment of solid tumors. However, the use of B10 cells enhances the anti-tumor immune responses that are so important in effective cancer immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

We have developed a select class of monoclonal antibodies that preferentially depletes B10 cells in vivo, while sparing B cells, which enhances immune responses and provides protective functions. Preferential B10 cell depletion augments adaptive, innate and humoral immune responses and synergizes with checkpoint inhibitors that target T cells in the treatment of solid tumors in therapeutic pre-clinical models.

We are advancing our human B10 cell depletion technologies for cancer immunotherapy, as well as the treatment of infectious disease.

In pre-clinical studies, monoclonal antibody-induced mouse B10 cell depletion significantly enhances immune responses in vivo. Enhanced immune responses following B10 cell depletion leads to the immediate resolution of infections. Moreover, B10 cell depletion functions like an immune checkpoint inhibitor that significantly enhances anti-tumor immune responses in vivo.

Targeted Disease Suppression

B10 Cell Expansion

Cellective can expand human regulatory B10 cells ex vivo for use as an autologous cellular immunotherapy for autoimmune disease, chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD), transplantation and antibody immunodeficiencies. Immunotherapy using regulatory B10 cells obtained from the patient establishes a new treatment paradigm with the restoration of immunologic tolerance as a long-term goal. Our development focus is on two orphan diseases, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and cGVHD.

In pre-clinical studies, ex vivo expanded mouse B10 cells proved to be major regulators of antigen-specific immune responses, inflammation and autoimmune disease. Increasing B10 cell numbers by the transfer of ex vivo expanded B10 cells can have a positive therapeutic impact across diverse diseases, including mouse models of multiple sclerosis, contact hypersensitivity and cGVHD.